Alex Eala through to W80 California second round

FILE–Tennis ace Alex Eala. –ALEX EALA FACEBOOK

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala barged into the second round of the W80 Rancho Santa Fe after staving off Dalayna Hewitt of the United States in three sets, 6-1, 2-6, 6-0, on Thursday (Manila time) in California.

The 17-year-old Filipino dropped the second set but she was quick to regain momentum in the decider, blanking Hewitt to advance to the round of 16 of the $80, 000 tournament.

Eala guns for a quarterfinal berth against Canada’s Katherine Sebov on Friday (Manila time).

Sebov, who is currently the No.280 in the Women’s Tennis Association, upset seventh seed Carol Zhao, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2, to reach the second round.

Eala, world ranked No. 281,  blanked Alana Smith, 6-0, 6-0, to reach the main draw.

The Rafael Nadal Academy scholar suffered a second-round exit in the W60 Templeton.

The first Filipino to win a Grand Slam singles title is eyeing her third pro crown after winning a pair of championships in W15 Manacor last year and W25 Chiang Rai last April.